The lack of sleep and the sense of never being at peace are exhausting.

Why does PTSD have physical effects?

This could be because when we feel stressed emotionally, our bodies release hormones called cortisol and adrenaline. This is the body’s automatic way of preparing to respond to a threat (sometimes called the 'fight, flight or freeze' response).

Studies have shown that someone with PTSD will continue producing these hormones when they're no longer in danger, which is thought to explain some symptoms such as extreme alertness and being easily startled.

I thought I was coping quite well to start with. Then a few weeks after the event, I began experiencing unpleasant physical symptoms, similar to those of a heart attack: chest pain, tightness and dizzy spells so severe that I thought I would pass out [...] my heart was constantly racing and I felt permanently dizzy. I couldn’t leave the house and became afraid of going to sleep as I was convinced I was going to die.

What are flashbacks?

A flashback is a vivid experience in which you relive some aspects of a traumatic event or feel as if it is happening right now. This can sometimes be like watching a video of what happened, but flashbacks do not necessarily involve seeing images, or reliving events from start to finish. You might experience any of the following:

seeing full or partial images of what happened

noticing sounds, smells or tastes connected to the trauma

feeling physical sensations, such as pain or pressure

experiencing emotions that you felt during the trauma.

You might notice that particular places, people or situations can trigger a flashback for you, which could be due to them reminding you of the trauma in some way. Or you might find that flashbacks seem to happen at random. Flashbacks can last for just a few seconds, or continue for several hours or even days.

I feel like I’m straddling a timeline where the past is pulling me in one direction and the present another. I see flashes of images and noises burst through, fear comes out of nowhere… my heart races and my breathing is loud and I no longer know where I am.

Other impacts of PTSD

If you are experiencing symptoms of PTSD, you might also find that you have difficulty with some everyday aspects of your life, such as:

looking after yourself

holding down a job

maintaining friendships or relationships

remembering things and making decisions

your sex drive

coping with change

simply enjoying your leisure time.

If you drive you may have to tell the DVLA that you have PTSD. (For more information on your right to drive, including when and how to contact the DVLA, see our legal pages on fitness to drive.)

My behaviour changed and became erratic. I would alternate from wanting to shut myself away and not see or talk to anyone to going out to parties in the middle of the week and staying out late.

PTSD and other mental health problems

It's common to experience other mental health problems alongside PTSD, which could include:

I was also deeply depressed and experiencing huge amounts of anxiety, refusing to go anywhere alone or go near any men that I didn't know… [I] would lock my bedroom windows and barricade my bedroom door at night.